The Undiscovered Waves of the Pacific, Panama​

La Barqueta

“For the past 15 years me and a handful of friends from the area around David have been coming down here on the weekends to surf. Sometimes just to get wet and wash of our week of working, sometimes to surf perfect waves all by ourselves. On good days now there’s maybe ten to fifteen guys out there, that’s what we call a crowded day”

- local surfer Adolfo

La Barqueta breaks on all swell directions and is part of Panama’s less explored coastline, with only a handful of others in the water on a busy day. It's an exposed beach break with a consistent but sometimes challenging wave and very little crowd. It’s somewhere competent intermediate & advanced surfers should be flocking to as a playground of improvement and relative solitude. La Barquata works best around mid tide, high tide turns into a shore break and low tide closes out but the whitewash could be surfed by beginners on a calm day.Its only down side is that it can't really hold swells larger than 5ft without a lot of water moving around, leading to sometimes challenging or unsurfable conditions.

La Barqueta gets waves all year round but works best in the dry season (December till May). During the rainy season it only works in the mornings as the wind changes from a light offshore breeze to a strong onshore wind around noon messing up the surf.

Since La Barqueta is a beach break and the sand is constantly moving the break changes every day. Usually the best spot to surf is in front of the big white building, just a bit left from the beach entrance, this is where you’ll find some friendly locals in the water on weekends.

From all the spots in the area La Barqueta catches most swell, if it’s flat you’re not going to find any waves in the area.

There’s only one surf shop in the area, Full Drop, David. They pretty much sell everything you need for surfing, from wax to rashguards. However they don’t rent out boards and will only have a couple for sale starting at 600$. There’s no other places to rent boards a La Barqueta. Bring your own board!

Las Lajas

Las Lajas is a beginner proof beach break in the area is Las Lajas, within an 1.45 hour drive of La Barqueta. This long stretch of beach offers great conditions for beginners and intermediates to improve. Las Lajas runs best from mid to high tide. You can rent foam boards at Johnny Fiesta’s hostel for 10$ a day, they also offer accommodation starting at 10$ a night. If you’re looking for a shortboard you can check with the local surf school, they’re only open on weekends for lessons but there’s usually someone around to get you set up with a board.

Coco beach

To get to Coco beach you have to cross through two checkpoints at the Costa Rican border, don’t forget your passport! There are no places to rent a board. Coco beach is the perfect place to go when the swell gets too big for La Barqueta to hold (over 5 ft) and it’s just a big mess out there. It’s only a 1,5 hour drive from La Barqueta. The peninsula stop most swell coming in which makes it usually about half the size of La Barqueta. The waves get better & bigger on southern swells.

If you’re looking for an awesome weekend trip both Bocas del Toro & Morro Negrito offer some world class breaks that are definitely worth checking out when you’re here!

They just went. The explorers. The pioneers. The CWS scouts of remote work and surf spots.

Our epic little crew in Panama is on a mission to explore the land in search for the best spots to work and surf. All they have is a Jeep, some boards and each other. What they find is as exciting as the trip itself. Enjoy!

To be continued..

Also curious to know what happens next?
​If you want, you can sign up to get the updates right in your mailbox! :)

CWS Panama is our new luxurious coliving resort with solid wifi, the best weekend adventures and waves breaking 100 meters from your window. If you manage to grab the limited launch offer, these are the legends you'll be staying with.

Coworksurf is a coliving space for people who travel and work on the road and value being near the waves, having other awesome people around and are wanting to surf or learn how to surf. We offer accommodation in beautiful locations with a homey community feel, solid shared workspaces and grab & go surfboards.

One of the main reasons why people book with us is the friendly community. Now we are partnering with a resort in Panama to create a sweet coliving paradise there. Check out the beautiful Coworksurf Panama location with more info here.

But, there is one issue: there is no remote worker community... yet. We're building it from scratch. And so we've organized a team to create an instant vibe, make it homey AF and and spread the word. They will be the Coworksurf Panama beta tester. The explorer. The Columbus of remote work. And the right hand of Donna and Juan to turn their over 80 room resort into a pumping Digital Nomad village. Most importantly, they will be your fam & crew when you're there.

​Meet the amazing CWS Panama launch crew:

LukieFreelance Marketing & PR from Amsterdam

​I'm a freelancer who loves to surf, so I'm eager to explore the possibilities of working from another country. I'm full of energy and always on the lookout for fun stuff to do. I can easily get along with people and enjoy initiating and facilitating group events. Would love to share a workplace with other freelancers, while improving my surf skills :)

I love exploring this world and meeting new people and learning about new cultures and philosophies. I enjoy creating a space where people feel comfortable being unapologetically themselves. I love traveling and being outdoors in a community and alone and I think Coworksurf will finally allow me to work on my goal of learning to surf by going out into the water consistently.

Avery and SamBoth work in Sales from Arizona
​
I (Avery) stayed at the CoworkSurf in Canggu and loved it! The constant brain storming and growth, developing & creating with the coworking environment was amazing. I was constantly inspired and loved building something with so many different creatives from all over the world. Coworksurf is the perfect combo of work and play.

​We are from Utah & Arizona and are so excited to come to Panama because we love central america, and we are stoked to learn from you legends!

I starting surfing four years ago and fell in love with it since day one. The last year I’ve been traveling and surf coaching in Indonesia and Europe. I’m super excited to go to Panama and experience a different culture, meet some amazing people and great food.

Frenchy living in the Netherlands who tries to travel as much as possible. Travel and business photographer (FotoGenoten) who loves life and the challenges it offers.

I love working with and being around young(er) ambitious people in the midst of their professional (and personal) development. And I like to help people grow in a way that fits them and their culture and that helps them make sense if themselves and the world around them. Apart from being a photographer, I’m also an educational designer with lots of experience in entrepreneurship and innovation education (hands-on and conceptually sound).

I have been into solo travel for a few years and Central America has been my favorite, this mid-west girl is slowly getting better at surfing each time. I have an advertising background and just finished my masters degree with a premier graduate program in Business and Branding, the VCU Brandcenter. I am looking to start independent consulting (and be a digital nomad myself).

I am excited for the beach and time to reflect on how I want to communicate my business. I am excited about the group of people going, I think I can learn a lot from them already working freelance in creative fields.

My name is Ainhoa and im from Barcelona. I love take photos and write around the life. I have a blog " walkingwithnhoa" and my dream is walk around the world. when no im walking i am surfing the city!! se u soon for walk together!!

Free stays for one to two months at a beach front resort in Panama? What's the deal?!

Simple. CoworkSurf is a coliving space for people who travel and work on the road and want to (learn how to) surf. We offer accommodation in beautiful locations with a homey community, solid shared workspaces and grab & go surfboards.

Why can you stay for free at CoworkSurf Panama?

​​One of the main reasons why people book with us is the friendly community. Now we are partnering up with the lovely Juan and Donna (left picture) from Las Olas resort in Panama to create a sweet coliving paradise there. Check out their beautiful CoworkSurf Panama location with more info here.

But, there is one issue: there is no remote worker community yet. We have to build it from scratch. And while we are busy at our other locations,we are giving away free accommodation + free use of surfboards for three to five awesome peopleto scout the place, help Donna and Juan to make it homey AF and spread the word. You will be the CoworkSurf Panama beta tester. The explorer. The Columbus of remote work. And the right hand of Donna and Juan to turn their over 80 room resort into a pumping Digital Nomad village. Still following? Good.

There are roughly three types of people we are looking for:

1. Videographer / Photographer / Social media legendYou know how to do cool stuff and make it look even cooler on our social media accounts and for the website. We specifically need all the photo's on the Panama homepage to be filled with cool people, and blogs & Instagram stories about adventures, surfs, coworking sessions, workshops etcetera to spread ongoing good vibes from Panama towards the rest of the world.

2. Events / Social connector / Leading host legendYou are the social hero that welcomes every new guest and make them feel at home, and you also know how to keep order. You feel what the community, the other volunteers and Donna & Juan need and initiate fun activities, help facilitate workshops with the guests, throw an occasional mastermind session, and are helping Donna and Juan to see what needs to be improved to create an even better guest experience. Maybe you will even try to fix a partnership with the local motor rental company or get the local supermarket to deliver orders once a week? Anything. (If all goes well we might have an offer for you for the longer term.)

3. Surf / Activities legendYou take the group out for surfs and lessons and are the overall guide of the ocean. Our guests want to know the ins and outs of surfing, from how to read the waves to making their first turns to what clothes to wear if you want to look like a true beach dude / gal. Next to that, you initiate and help organise activities like mangrove canoe tours or beach BBQs.

4. Open applicationYou can be a remote worker who is familiar with coliving spaces and want to be part of the creation of this one, a blogger, a local who knows everything about the area, a still life painter or just a generally awesome person who knows how to get the most out of their day. Let us know why you should come over, we are really open for cool ideas.

This all might sound like a lot of work but you will have enough time for your own projects while you're there. Apply with a buddy if you make a great team.

Practical info

We're launching the space on September 1, but you're welcome from mid-august onwards.

Panama has a visa on arrival for 180 days for most countries. Check if yours is included here.

If you can't make it in September or October, we might have a spot for you later on. Let us know in the form at the end of this page what works best for you. If you want to keep in the loop about similar offers in other upcoming locations, write 'other' as the answer to the availability question in the same form.

We can't pay for your flights, but we can pick you up and drop you off at Enrique Malek International Airport.

Worst case scenario: You stay in a resort in Panama for a month for free with a bunch of other awesome beta testers.Best case scenario: You are one of the legends that helped turn this beauty of a place into a thriving Digital Nomad village.

Don't want to help out but do want to stay at CoworkSurf Panama? We got you with our honey-sweet launch offers.

Enjoy life!

Happy day,

Pier

After working with our friend Stian, surf teaching in Portugal we were stoked he and his friend Rolf were keen on setting up a space for remote workers in the beautiful spot of Lofoten, Norway and the teaser video is off the hook. We implore you to check this place out and get your Northern Hemisphere on.

Here's what Rolf had to say:

​​"Finally the Arctic Coworking Lodge is ready! After months of hard work we are ready to host people. It truly looks amazing and it feels so good to finally be finished. Earlier this year we had filmmakers Pete Veale and Sam Billingham come over to tell our story. Looking back on it now its weird how the space has changed. We want to give a big shout out to everyone that has helped this project succeed. From people that inspired us (like the coworksurf crew), to the people helping us build the space and generally all the awesome human beings we have met along this journey."

Hey COWORKSURF fam! Last Friday we had an epic BBQ at the Villa.Chef Yve Dynamite (that's me) threw down in the kitchen and on the grill.It was good fun and we're definitely going to make it a thing.

Here are a few snaps of the day.​

This is my helper Milo. He's more for moral support.

I spent the afternoon prepping about 4 kilos of meat and making a huge pasta salad.For the chicken, I made my homemade Teriyaki sauce.Here are the ingredients:Fresh (Ginger, Garlic, Pineapple)Dried (Tumeric, Chili Flakes, Paprika, Basil)Soy SauceThrow it all in the blender!

Here's a bit of Pasta Porn with a 2 Pac soundtrack.

​Here's a cool clip put together by our favs over at @wandergo_app

Thanks to everyone that participated and stay tuned for the next one!​Chef Yve Dynamite OUT! ONE!

​Here at COWORKSURF we strive to create a fun and supportive community beyond what an average coliving or homestay would offer. We see the value in genuine connections between the guests and since we always have such an awesome crowd, that never seems to be a problem here.

This past week we held a Mastermind Session thanks to the inspiration of one of CWS legend's, Pier.​

We currently have a full house of creatives and professionals so it was a perfect meeting of the minds.For those of you that don't know what a Mastermind Session is, let me break it down for you.

According to Forbes Magazine, "A mastermind group is designed to help you navigate through challenges using the collective intelligence of others."

The evening started off with a Bintang run (local Bali beer) to Pepito's because statistics show that Bintangs help get the creative juices flowing.(Don't quote me on that)

Then we started off by checking into the session which involved answering the following 3 questions.

How did you feel when you woke up today?If there's one problem in the world you could solve today, what would it be?How do you feel right now?

Just about everyone in the group answered "excited" for the last question, which is awesome!

We sat down at the table and received a sheet of paper and a pen.In the meantime Pier drew this stunning diagram on the whiteboard.

He's quite the artist right?

He explained to us that each of us needs to choose one project or issue in our lives at the moment that we'd like to share and get advice about.This diagram highlighted the fact that the topic could be in reference to your health, relationships, schedule, or job/finances.Once we figured out what our topic of discussion would be, we had to answer a couple more questions.This time we got a few minutes to ponder and then write them down.

Here are the questions....What are you working on?What is going well?What is not going so well?What would you like advice on?

Once we were done jotting our answers, we all took a swig of beer. Jk, just me ;)The next step was to go around and share your answers. Each person had a total of 6 minutes each which included the time to give your answers and receive feedback from the group.

Here's a look at my scribble....

​(a bit messy I know, don't judge)

During my 6 minutes of fame, I was able to elaborate a bit more but I made sure to leave a good chunk of time for feedback from the group.So by peeking at my answers, you can get an idea of what I'm working on and the advice I was seeking. I was quite lucky because there were 3 extremely talented content creators/vloggers/social media savants in the group.Their advice was so spot on and obviously straight from personal experience.

Not only did I walk away with great tips and goals to work on in the upcoming week but I also learned a lot about my CWS community.The days to follow, I had roomies come up to me and ask how is the filming going?Do you need help with this or that?

I think that when traveling and working remotely, it can be difficult to make genuine connections with others.I've noticed that while staying here at CWS, that hasn't been an issue at all!The general vibe of the staff and the guests is very inviting and gives you a great sense of belonging. So, if you're looking for a home away from home where you can plan how you're going to take over the world.Look no further. COWORKSURF is the bomb.com!

I'd like to think I'm quite the bad a$$ and capable of doing anything I put my mind to but I've realized that sometimes it's completely ok to admit that there are some things not meant for me.

Last week I attempted to learn how to drive a scooter. I figured that well I drive a car and I'm confident maneuvering on a bicycle through the chaotic streets of New York City so this should be a breeze.Not the case at all.

Call me 'Old & Fearful' if you'd like (only in reference to this) but my nerves were shot after going up and down our little street outside the CWS villa. ​So I've decided for my sanity, my safety and the safety of others I'd accept that I make an amazing passenger.​Luckily the CWS crew loves to roll together wether it be for breakfast at Crate, surfing at Batu Bolong or live music at Deus. There's always a friendly face ready to let you hop on the back. ​

​If you need to get somewhere and a house mate isn't available don't fret, there are options!

GO-JEK is a phone app that offers an array of online services such as transportation by moto or car, food delivery, and more. I use the GO-RIDE service constantly. It is super inexpensive and they pick up from the CWS villa. To get anywhere local like the beaches will only cost you Rp 10-15k (~$1) and to Kuta about Rp 25k.

The app works a lot like Uber, Lyft etc and the location services are more accurate than Google, which is quite impressive.I tend to have pretty positive experiences with the drivers.

​One of my trips was by far one of my best conversations with a local. He had jokes for days and was a delight to ride home with. Here's my fav joke of his.

You will notice that in a few commercial areas of Canggu GO-JEKs are not allowed to do pick ups. So it can be quite tricky when you're wanting to come home from certain areas during peak hours. ​Your options are local taxis which have a tendency to charge a bit more but I try not to complain too much since it's all a part of supporting the local community and their businesses.

​An important highlight about CWS is it's location. We're lucky enough to be walking distance from a big supermarket, atm, warungs (inexpensive local food), and laundry.If you don't mind a long stroll you can even get to the beaches by foot. So, get over here already and we'll scoot, skip, surf and boogie! No prob.

Here's a pic of the CWS crew having a family breakfast at CRATE after yoga-ing. ​G O O D T I M E S.

"The greatest threat to our planet is the belief that someone else will save it."-Robert Swan

This is a famous photo of surfer Dede Suryana riding a trash filled wave off the coast of Indonesia.It is no secret that Bali is one of the best places to catch waves and so the crowds continue to flood the Island of the Gods. ​

With the waves of tourist come a lot of waste and trash that the local city services can not manage to dispose of efficiently. Sadly, a good amount of this trash ends up dumped into our oceans and waterways. Luckily there are people who care and are working to combat the disaster.

As a community of surfers and earth lovers here at COWORKSURF we see it as our obligation to do our part in helping the cause.

We are starting to hold bi-monthly beach clean ups at our local Pererenan Beach.This past Thursday we brought bags, gloves and our love for the environment straight to the source.

​

As we started the clean up a local teacher noticed what we were doing and helped out. It was a pretty special moment. Later on a father and his son came down for a surf. The father showed his son what we were doing and told him to grab a few pieces of trash and put it in the bag. Again, another sign that doing something positive can be contagious.

We focused mainly on the trash coming from the river mouth which included a ton of plastic straws. So if you're thinking of a very significant way you can help the cause, refusing straws when you're out is a huge help. ​You can also invest in metal or bamboo straws which look way cooler anyway.

(Photo taken by our lovely Svenja Tietze. Follow her on Insta @sunnykindoflife)

As the sun set and our bags were too heavy to carry, we'd thought we'd call it a day. We scooted the bags back to the Villa and arranged for our local pick up service.If you'd like to recycle and are in need of a pick up service. Check out Eco-Bali for more info.

If you're in Bali and interested in participating in a beach clean up, you're always more than welcome to join in on ours. There are also multiple other organizations working for the cause. ​Here are the links to two awesome groups here in Canggu..Bali Beach Clean Up ​Trash Hero Canggu​

Until next time ocean lovers. Let everyday be Earth Day! Peace out!

(Photo taken by our lovely Svenja Tietze. Follow her on Insta @sunnykindoflife)